Police: Man Charged with Strangling Girlfriend During Fight

A 53-year-old Arlington man has been charged with strangling his girlfriend during a domestic dispute.

Between 8 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday, William Kennedy and his girlfriend were arguing over Kennedy's son, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said. The two were at Kennedy's apartment on the 2300 block of South 24th Road when the argument escalated into a physical altercation, Sternbeck said.

During the fight, Kennedy choked the woman and wouldn't let her leave the apartment, according to police. He also allegedly prevented her from calling 911.

Police eventually were called and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Preventing someone from leaving is the same as holding them against their will, which police consider abduction, Sternbeck said.

Kennedy was charged with malicious wounding, strangulation, abduction and preventing 911 from being called, according to the Arlington County Police Department. He is being held without bond.